Legislature(2009 - 2010)BARNES 124
02/02/2010 01:00 PM House MILITARY & VETERANS' AFFAIRS
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB291 | |
| HB292 | |
| HB274 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | HB 274 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | HB 291 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | HB 292 | TELECONFERENCED | |
HB 274-ESTABLISHING PURPLE HEART DAY
2:31:50 PM
CHAIR GATTO announced that the final order of business would be
HOUSE BILL NO. 274, "An Act establishing August 7 as Purple
Heart Day."
2:32:13 PM
REPRESENTATIVE BERTA GARDNER, Alaska State Legislature, thanked
the four other prime sponsors on the committee for their
support. In addition, she pointed out that there are members of
the public, including a Purple Heart recipient, who are present
in support of the bill. She then introduced Ellie Sica, a
member of her staff.
2:33:29 PM
ELLIE SICA, Intern, Representative Berta Gardner, Alaska State
Legislature, speaking on behalf of Representative Gardner, one
of the prime sponsors of HB 274, introduced the bill. The
Purple Heart is awarded to any member of the U.S. armed forces
who is wounded or killed in battle, and it has been awarded to
approximately 1.7 million service men and women. August 7 is
historically significant because on this day in 1782, General
George Washington established the Badge of Military Merit to
honor military enlisted men and noncommissioned officers. In
1932, the badge was reinstituted and renamed the Purple Heart.
Other states currently recognize August 7 as Purple Heart Day;
in fact, the Alaska State Legislature has previously supported
Purple Heart related legislation and proclamations such as the
Purple Heart Trail and the governor's proclamation of August 7,
2009, as Purple Heart Day. Ms. Sica explained that the intent
of the proposed bill is to establish this day in perpetuity and
to show that Alaska honors its citizens that have been wounded
or killed in action.
2:35:42 PM
REPRESENTATIVE LYNN pointed out that the Badge of Military Merit
was established to honor enlisted men and noncommissioned
officers; however, the Purple Heart can be awarded to any member
of the military.
REPRESENTATIVE GARDNER agreed.
2:37:11 PM
TIM ARMSTRONG, Chief of Staff, Alaska Military Order of the
Purple Heart, informed the committee that his organization is in
favor of the bill. He said he received the Purple Heart on
November 23, 1968. The Alaska Military Order of the Purple
Heart has active chapters in Anchorage, Fairbanks, the
Matanuska-Susitna Valley, and Soldotna, and a chapter will open
soon in Juneau. There are approximately 254 life members of the
Order in Alaska including two females. He noted that the
national Order is the only 100 percent combat veteran
organization in the country. Mr. Armstrong related his past and
present affiliations with other veterans' organizations and
thanked the committee members who are in support of the bill.
He stated his organization's support for establishing Purple
Heart Day in perpetuity in order to recognize those deserving of
this award. He said, "This is one award that nobody went out in
search of." Mr. Armstrong stressed that the award began as a
medal of merit that was changed to include those wounded as a
result of hostile action. He noted that the majority of
awardees receive the medal posthumously and unfortunately, the
number of awardees is growing.
2:41:48 PM
REPRESENTATIVE LYNN thanked Mr. Armstrong for his service.
MR. ARMSTRONG reviewed how he came to be a recipient of the
Purple Heart.
2:45:01 PM
VERDIE BOWEN, Director, Office of Veteran Affairs, Department of
Military & Veterans' Affairs, verified that Alaska honors its
military; in fact, the passage of HB 274 would be one more way
to show veterans that Alaska cares about them. He recalled the
dedication of the Purple Heart Trail in Alaska and noted that
the majority of the state's Purple Heart recipients are Vietnam
veterans.
2:46:37 PM
MAJOR WILLIAM ALLEN, Commander, U. S. Marine Corps, said that he
had eight encounters with Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) in
Iraq.
2:47:03 PM
CHAIR GATTO described his feelings when he drove by the Purple
Heart Trail sign in Tok.
2:47:26 PM
MAJOR ALLEN expressed his belief that, as a Purple Heart
recipient, his reception in Alaska was like no other Marine
community as he was welcomed and given an opportunity to tell
his story. The designation of this date does more than honor
Purple Heart recipients, but also recognizes those who may
return with injuries suffered due to training and noncombat
injuries, or from injuries that remain internalized. He advised
that suffering also extends beyond the service member and
affects family members, who are the "home front warriors."
Major Allen concluded that the bill is a symbol for the heroic
young men and women who have served and have been injured, as
well as those with lesser injuries, and the families at home who
suffer the "injuries of absence."
2:49:19 PM
REPRESENTATIVE RAMRAS thanked Major Allen for his service and
his work done on behalf of veterans, reservists, and service
members on active duty.
2:50:27 PM
MR. BOWEN opined the most important aspect of the bill is to
demonstrate support for the veteran and his or her family, as do
the Purple Heart Trail markers.
2:52:02 PM
REPRESENTATIVE LYNN moved to report HB 274 out of committee with
individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes.
There being no objection, HB 274 was reported from the House
Special Committee on Military and Veterans' Affairs.
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